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Moderate ensured to be Japan's prime minister

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published September 24, 2007

TOKYO - Japan's troubled ruling party chose dovish veteran politician Yasuo Fukuda as its pick for prime minister Sunday, turning to an experienced hand to battle the resurgent opposition in Parliament and reverse a steep slide in public support.

Fukuda, the 71-year-old son of a prime minister and a former right-hand man to two prime ministers, easily won the vote for president of the Liberal Democratic Party, a post that ensures his election as prime minister in Parliament on Tuesday.

But Fukuda, who would replace Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, faces daunting challenges: The upper house of Parliament is dominated by the opposition, and sentiment is growing in favor of snap elections that could endanger the LDP's grip on the lower house.

Fukuda acknowledged the difficulties ahead.

"My appointment comes at a very challenging time," he said.

The new LDP president charted a moderate course for his term in office: He pledged to improve ties with Asia, maintain Japan's pro-U.S. foreign policy by extending a naval mission in support of forces in Afghanistan, and provide assistance to rural areas left behind by the economic recovery.

He also vowed after the vote to rebuild the LDP's popularity, which has plunged under a year of scandals and policy missteps by Abe, who has been hospitalized with stress-related stomach problems since announcing on Sept. 12 that he would resign.

[Last modified September 23, 2007, 23:41:31]